As the year comes to an end, it can be all too easy to dwell on all that wasn’t accomplished — the goals that weren’t met and the projects that were never completed. It’s no secret that many of us are too hard on ourselves and never recognize all that we managed to do. With how busy or hard life can feel at times, we owe it to ourselves to celebrate our accomplishments, no matter how small or insignificant they may feel.

24 Things From 2024 to Celebrate

1. Making bread from scratch
2. Taking myself out on solo dates once a month
3. Meeting an online friend in person after years of chatting through social media
4. Eating breakfast out more often
5. Trying several new restaurants from my “to-try” list
6. Seeing Central Park in the fall
7. Admitting I needed help to navigate a challenging situation
8. Speaking my mind when my feelings were hurt
9. Eating more pizza than I can count in New York City
10. Shopping more from small businesses
11. Beating my reading goal without realizing it
12. Attending a craft workshop without knowing anyone else
13. Completing the NY Times short crossword every day
14. Complimenting strangers more
15. Perfecting my meatball recipe
16. Making more phone calls and sending fewer texts
17. Taking my lunch breaks on busy workdays
18. Finally purchasing the bedding I’ve had my eye on for years
19. Donating our old linens to the local animal shelter
20. Teaching our rescue dog to cuddle on the couch with me
21. Navigating the NY subway system without getting too lost
22. Finding a shade of red I feel good in
23. Changing the windshield wipers on my car by myself
24. Establishing a morning routine that allows me to ease into my day

What are you celebrating from 2024?

Look back on the year with thoughtful prompts from Field Guide to Everyday Magic Issue 14.

The post 24 Things From 2024 Worth Celebrating first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

In a world that often feels uncertain, it’s nice to have things you can rely on. It might sound cheesy, but perhaps Jessie Frederick, the singer and composer responsible for the Full House theme song, said it best when he asked, “Whatever happened to predictability?” Bella Grace readers know that I’m a creature of habit, so it’s probably no surprise that I love holidays because I love traditions.

Each year, the holiday season starts with my birthday, which is usually right around Thanksgiving. I know going into it that I can count on lunch at the same place with one of my closest friends, as well as a bottle of luxurious hand lotion she always gives me. It’s something I look forward to every year, as I know it gives us a chance to catch up and chat about how excited we are for the holidays to arrive.

This is a time of year filled with things I do annually. Not because I feel obligated to, but because I truly enjoy them. Some of these traditions date back to my childhood and even generations before me, while others have been established in recent years. Most might not feel significant or meaningful to anyone else, but they’ve grown more important to me over the years and help keep me present in the season, even when I might be feeling a little lost or overwhelmed.

My Favorite Holiday Traditions:

• Snacking on the turkey-shaped cheese ball my aunt makes every year and joking with my family about how little it actually looks like a bird.
• Browsing the Black Friday ads after enjoying our Thanksgiving dinner, making a list of all I want to buy, and ultimately purchasing nothing.
• Going to the mall just to surround myself with the festive atmosphere.
• Taking far too long to pick out a Christmas tree and figuring out how to best hide its “ugly” side.
• Having a gift-wrapping party with friends so we can spend time together despite the ever-growing to-do list that comes with this time of year.
• That first viewing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and reciting our favorite lines.
• Vowing to make something new for Christmas breakfast but never actually steering away from our beloved egg and sausage casserole.
• A coffee-fueled stroll around our neighborhood to look at Christmas lights with friends before enjoying a dinner filled with good cheer and food.
• Christmas Eve spent in pajamas.
• Guessing how much Grandma’s Christmas lasagna weighs.
• Standing around my best friend’s kitchen island each New Year’s Eve, talking and laughing while making more dumplings than we’ll ever be able to consume.

What traditions are you looking forward to this year?

Explore more ways to enjoy the holiday season to its fullest in our newly released Bella Grace Issue 42.

The post Holiday Traditions I’m Most Looking Forward To first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

And just like that, the holiday season has arrived! As you may know, here at Bella Grace, we adore all things cozy. We’ve added a wonderful selection of gifts to our shop that are perfect for your hygge-loving friends and family members. Here are some of our favorites…

Cozy Gift Ideas

1. The Ultimate Cozy Gift Bundle

Nothing says “cozy” quite like snuggling up next to the fire with a piping hot cup of tea and a feel-good read! The Ultimate Cozy Bundle is this year’s must-have gift and perfect for anyone looking to embrace a slow living, hygge lifestyle. It includes The Cozy Issue Volume 7, Red Giving Shawl, Packaging Sentiment, and Ceramic Reindeer Candle.

Get This Bundle | Explore Our Coziest Collection

2. Reindeer Candle

This soy-blend candle is beautifully housed in a ceramic container, which can be reused creatively! It has a festive Siberian Fir scent to provide an ambiance of tranquility during the holidays.

Get This Candle | Explore Gifts for Introverts

3. Bella Grace Gift Subscription

Everyone needs a little time for some introspection and the cold winter months encourage us all to stay indoors where it’s warm. A subscription to Bella Grace provides unique ways for discovering magic in the everyday through heartwarming stories, striking photographs, and inspirational quotes. Each issue also includes a number of thought-provoking prompts, and worksheets with journaling space, that are sure to give the recipient some much-deserved “me time.” Give this, along with a nice journaling pen, to a friend who could use a bit of magic throughout the year.

Gift a Bella Grace Subscription | Explore All Gift Subscriptions

4. Higher Love Spiral Notebook

Papaya has made journaling stylish and easy by creating a spiral-bound notebook with gold foil accents and colorful imagery. Jotting down your ideas has never been so fun or creative! This notebook is the perfect size to take with you wherever you go.

Get This Notebook | Explore Cards and Journals

5. Winter’s Magic Bella Grace Bundle

We all need a little comfort now and then, and nothing is cozier than this ready-to-gift bundle! Our Winter’s Magic Bella Grace Bundle contains the latest issue of Bella Grace and an oh-so cozy soft blue Giving Shawl as a special bonus. The Dusty Blue Giving Shawl includes a message of encouragement that’s printed on a keepsake bookmark. It also comes tucked inside a beautiful gift box that’s artfully tied with a ribbon making it ready to gift.

Get This Bundle | Explore Gifts for Women

6. Hooded Wrap

This 30″ x 75″ Hooded Wrap is designed with coziness in mind! It’s made from comforting materials and packaged with casual “thinking-of-you” messages. More colors available in our shoppe.

Get This Hooded Wrap | Explore Our Coziest Collection

7. Triple Dose of Cozy

Is the chill in the air reminding you that winter is just around the corner? Get ready to nestle into the next season with three of our coziest issues that are perfect to curl up with!

Get This Bundle | Explore Magazine Bundles

8. Calm and Cozy Neck Warmer

Embrace the colder months with this oh-so-soft Calm and Cozy Neck Warmer. Whether worn indoors or out, the super soft, cream fabric will wrap you in warmth and tranquility whenever its used – just like a comforting hug!

Get This Neck Warmer | Explore Our Coziest Collection

9. Kindness Socks

Whether the socks are worn everyday or used for a special gifting moment, at the end of the day, a little bit of kindness is always welcome! More colors available in our shoppe.

Get These Socks | Explore Creative Stocking Stuffers

For more cozy gift ideas, browse our entire Warm & Cozy Gift Collection!

The post The Coziest Gift Guide first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

Every four years, we’re gifted with something special: a bonus day. Though we think you should always make time for yourself, this leap year, we encourage you to set aside an entire extra day so you can spend it however you want. Discover in this blog some of our favorite ideas. Choose a few to do, or do them all.

Why We Have Leap Years

The concept of leap years traces its roots back to the ancient Romans. A leap year every four years helps synchronize our calendar with the Earth’s orbit around the sun. But it isn’t just about adjusting our calendar; it’s also a time when cultures celebrate in unique ways.

The extra day in a leap year symbolizes a pause, a chance to step outside the everyday routine and reflect on the extraordinary beauty of life. In some traditions, women are encouraged to take the initiative and propose to their partners on February 29th. Others consider the leap day a day of good luck and a time to embark on new adventures or make life-changing decisions.

Photo by Kim Swain | Bella Grace Issue 31

10 Ways to Spend Your Extra Day

1. Spend the day in bed. Pull on a fresh pair of pajamas, gather up some books and snacks, and the TV remote. Sneak in a nap or two for ultimate relaxation.
2. Pretend it’s summer. Turn up the heater, throw on a sundress, and paint your toenails a bright, sunshiny color.
3. Gather with friends. Call up those people you never get a chance to see and put aside a few hours to spend with them. Go out for lunch, or consider hosting a potluck at your house. 
4. Go somewhere new in your town or city. It can be easy to stick to the same restaurants, stores, and even parks. Visit a new-to-you place where you live.
5. Watch your favorite movie. Many of us feel the need to keep up with all the new pop culture. Dim the lights, grab a blanket, and turn on your go-to feel-good movie.
6. Do a puzzle. They’re good for your mind, and there’s nothing quite like the feeling of putting the final piece in place. 
7. Cook something that takes all day. How often have you said you wanted to make a certain meal but you just don’t have the time? Now’s your chance.
8. Take a break from social media. We all need to reset from time to time. You won’t miss anything. We promise.
9. Pamper yourself. Take an extra long bath or shower. Use the good salts and scrubs. Put on a face mask. You’ve earned this break.
10. Watch cute animal videos online. Just a few videos filled with puppies and kittens are sure to bring a smile to your face.

Find more ways to celebrate the beauty of everyday life in our Bella Grace magazine.

The post Leap Year: 10 Ways to Spend Your Extra Day first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

When asked about what coziness means to them, most people will respond with fairly similar things: fuzzy socks, super-soft throw blankets, warm beverages sipped from an oversized mug, candles, and so on. We certainly won’t argue with those responses, but what we love most about the idea of coziness is that it’s something that can be so personal and unique to each one of us. What evokes a feeling of warmth and comfort can vary greatly from person to person. Here are some of our favorite sources of coziness from the pages of The Cozy Issue.

Creating a Bank Account of Comfort

Sometimes coziness can look a lot like contentment, and Elle Harris thinks it’s a feeling we should strive for. Here are four of her favorite sources of contentment to take note of to ensure we can feel cozy at any time.

1. Reminiscing with a fragrance you associate with a loved one
2. Entwining fingers with a hand that was made to fit into yours
3. Discovering aged, worn, and well-loved furniture in an antique show
4. Delighting in the first bite of a home-cooked meal after you’ve been away

Discover more ways to create a bank account of comfort for yourself in The Cozy Issue Volume 1.

Words by Elle Harris and Photo by Lumina | The Cozy Issue Volume 1

Keeping That Hygge Feeling Through Every Season

After a move to a much milder climate, Meg Magnusson asked herself how she and her family could possibly continue to practice the art of coziness without the cold weather that often comes along with it. We’ve chosen three of her favorite ways to keep that feeling throughout the year.

1. Play yard games. Dust off your lawn games that have been hibernating during the winter months and enjoy the fresh air with family and friends. Classic games of croquet, washers, and beanbag toss bring a flavor of childhood memories gone by.
2. Light a candle. Bring in the fall smells and the scents of the outdoors. Earthy tones such as cinnamon, clove, ginger, pumpkin, and sandalwood ground and root us to our center.
3. Bake, bake, bake. Creamy, crunchy, savory. Apple, pumpkin, pecan, and sweet potato. Indulge on the bountiful fall harvest in the form of your favorite pies, breads, and crisps.

Find out the rest of Meg’s favorite ways to keep that hygge feeling through every season in The Cozy Issue Volume 2.

Words by Meg Magnusson and Photo by Soren Edeberg | The Cozy Issue Volume 2

51 Unexpected Sources for Cozy

We asked our readers for their favorite unique sources for cozy, and their responses delighted us. Here are four of our favorites:

1. Writing with a fountain pen in a worn journal. I love how the pages begin to crinkle after being filled with inky words. (@faiththroughpcos)
2. I like to select a record to play to mark the end of my workday. My collection has so many great memories, especially my grandmother’s big band records. (@lawandthelady)
3. The smell of the theatre gets me every time. (Ellie Zumbach)
4. Taking the time to read through my old birthday cards, thank-you cards, and postcards that I’ve received from loved ones throughout the years. 
(Susanna Zheng)

You can find the rest of this list in The Cozy Issue Volume 3.

Photo by Sandra Cunningham | The Cozy Issue Volume 3

10 Daily Doses of Cozy

It’s still possible to find pockets of coziness even during the busiest of days. We’ve chosen four ways Melissa Smith manages to do so.

1. Change the lock screen on your phone to a picture of a quiet retreat, and pause to enjoy it before opening
your phone.
2. For your daily commute, turn your vehicle into a haven of comfort with seat covers, a fresh car scent, and a fun throw for the backseat.
3. Soften your wardrobe. Wear a soft camisole under your work blouse, add a pair of socks that hug your feet with comfort, or indulge in snuggly underthings.
4. Add a touch of warm color and texture to your kitchen. Find fresh window coverings, decorative tea towels,
or a lovely cutting board that reminds you of your favorite getaway.

Words by Melissa N. Smith and Photo by Felix Chacon | The Cozy Issue Volume 5

60 Simple Ideas to Add Warmth & Comfort to Your Life

And finally, we share four more simple and unique ways you can add warmth and comfort to your life, courtesy of Monica Wilkinson.

1. Tuck a pair of scissors into your glove box for when you spontaneously stop on the side of the road to cut wildflowers.
2. Pack your lunch in a vintage tin lunchbox or a beautiful worn basket.
3. Go for a picnic and use real dishes.
4. Bringing something from home adds instant coziness to outdoor events such as picnics, camping, or even traveling. It’s a sweet little comfort to take on the road.

Words by Monica Wilkinson and Photo by Camrin Dengel | The Cozy Issue Volume 5

So, what’s your favorite source for cozy? For more doses of coziness, check out The Cozy Issue, where Bella Grace magazine puts its magical touch on “hygge.” Click here.

The post Doses of Coziness You Never Knew You Craved first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

After enduring months of cold, dark, dreary days, it can be easy to feel like the sun may never shine again. Putting together a “basket of sunshine” is a thoughtful way to spread some cheer and remind a friend that sunnier days are just around the corner. The concept is simple: gather a collection of comforting things in various shades of yellow.

To make it feel even more special, you can bundle the items and tie them with twine and even add a dried flower here or there. To get you started on your own basket of sunshine, here are some items to look for.

Yellow Gift Basket Ideas

• Teacups or mugs
• Socks
• Candles

Pencils or pens

• Lip balm
• Journals
• Bubble bath
• Flowers
• Linens
• Wine or shampoo
• Face masks

Handmade soaps

• Lotions
• Body or linen sprays
• Uplifting books
• Candies

Lemonade

• Hair clips
• Tea bags
• Nail polish
• Bath bombs
• Stationery
• Body scrubs

We hope you enjoyed these quick and easy gift basket ideas that are sure to brighten anyone’s day.

For even more inspiration, you might also like:

• Must-Haves for a “Bella” Picnic
• Just Because: 21 Acts of Random Kindness
• The Magic of Impromptu Gifts

Christen Hammons is the Director of Publishing for Stampington & Company and Editor-in-Chief of Bella Grace, Book of Lists, Field Guide to Everyday Magic, The Cozy Issue,Somerset Studio, and GreenCraft. She lives in Orange County with her husband and their two rescue dogs.

The post A Basket of Sunshine first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

The holiday season is so packed with gatherings, events, and a never-ending to-do list that it can be hard to find a few minutes to yourself. No matter how busy your days may seem this time of year, there are always little pockets of time you can steal for yourself, even if it’s only 10 minutes here and there. Here are some ways you can enjoy that time.

15 Ways to Steal Pockets of Time for Yourself:

1. Read a chapter from a cozy holiday novel.
2. Take a hot bath by candlelight.

3. Turn off all the lights, leaving just the Christmas tree lit, and sit in silence for a few minutes.

4. Set up a phone date with a friend.
5. Bundle up and take a walk through your neighborhood to take in all the holiday cheer.
6. Slowly savor a cup of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows and sprinkles.
7. Make progress on a word puzzle.
8. Color in a holiday-themed coloring book.
9. Take a quick cat nap in the middle of the day.

10. Write down five new things in your gratitude journal.

11. Relax in front of the fireplace. If you don’t have one, put one on the TV.
12. Stretch out your body using a few simple yoga poses.
13. Watch your favorite part of your favorite holiday movie.
14. Put your coziest socks in the dryer for a bit, and put them on while they’re still warm.
15. Paint your nails a festive shade of red.

How do you steal pockets of time for yourself? Leave a comment to share with our community below.

It’s almost here! Get a sneak peek inside Bella Grace Issue 34, coming December 1st, on our publisher’s website at: https://stampington.com/Bella-Grace-Issue-34/

The post Stealing Pockets of Time During the Holiday Season first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

The hustle and bustle this time of year calls for evenings curled up in an overstuffed chair with a warm beverage in our hands. Imagine listening to rain or snow falling while you are cozied up in front of the fire, draped in something soft and warm, reading the day away.

I love giving gifts that remind people that it’s okay to slow down and cozy up. Here are some of my favorites …

Get it by Christmas. Click here to view our Holiday Shipping Schedule.

8 Cozy Gifts to Give This Season

1. Cozy Socks

We all need a little comfort now and then, and these Cream Giving Socks are a giftable hug for the feet! With ready-to-gift packaging, these pieces are thoughtful keepsakes to delight friends and family on special occasions or “just because.”

Get our Cream Giving Socks >>

Shop more gift ideas like this.

2. Hygge Gift Bundle

In our brand-new Hygge Gift Bundle, we’ve paired Bella Grace with playful, patterned socks to delight friends and family this season. Discover some of our readers’ “small-ish” dreams, 50+ secret spaces we’re in love with, beautiful in-betweens, rekindling the magic of winter, and so much more inside Bella Grace Issue 26.

Get the Hygge Gift Bundle >>

3. The Cozy Issue Volume 3

No cozy day is complete without the perfect reading material. The Cozy Issue Volume 3 is filled with stories that are all about slowing down and embracing the Danish concept of hygge. If you aren’t familiar with hygge, it is a word used to describe the act of living a comfortable and cozy life — one that’s filled with warmth, charm, simplicity, and contentment. The Cozy Issue also includes journaling prompts so you can explore what a cozy life looks like for you!

Get The Cozy Issue Volume 3 Here >>

View more gift ideas like this.

4. Essential Oil Diffuser Kit

Our Essential Oil Diffuser Kit includes a glass bottle made from recycled Taberna Spanish glass and is a beautiful aqua hue. Pick a scent for the gift recipient from our exclusive line of essential oils by Willow and Sage Botanicals!

Get our Essential Oil Diffuser Kit >>

Click here to see more DIY Kits & Gift Bundles.

5. Giving Shawl

Who wouldn’t want something soft and warm to wrap themselves in? This shawl is as soft as they come; it’s like wrapping yourself in a hug.

Get our Sage Giving Shawl >>

Click here to explore more gifts like this.

6. Scarves

Our stunning scarves allow you to bring a bit of stylish comfort with you, no matter where you go.

Get the Red Ombre Love Scarf Here >>

Shop more gift ideas like this.

7. Bella Grace Gift Subscription

Everyone needs a little time for some introspection and the cold winter months encourage us all to stay indoors where it’s warm. A subscription to Bella Grace provides unique ways for discovering magic in the everyday through heartwarming stories, striking photographs, and inspirational quotes. Each issue also includes a number of thought-provoking prompts, and worksheets with journaling space, that are sure to give the recipient some much-deserved “me time.” Give this, along with a nice journaling pen, to a friend who could use a bit of magic throughout the year.

Gift a Bella Grace Subscription Here >>

Explore all gift subscriptions.

8. Warm & Fuzzy Gift Bundle

The Warm & Fuzzy Gift Bundle not only contains Bella Grace, but we’ve also added these oh-so cozy Pink Giving Socks!

Peek Inside our Warm & Fuzzy Gift Bundle >>

For more cozy gift ideas, browse our entire
Warm & Cozy Gift Collection!

The post An Abundance of Cozy: 8 Cozy Gifts to Give This Season first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

“Hers is an old fashioned heart that holds timeless love. She’s a three page love letter in a world of relationship status updates.” – JM Storm

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Along with the open invitation to indulge in heart-shaped treats and pick up a bouquet of our favorite flowers at the market, we love this day as it is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate loved ones. Below you’ll find a simple gift guide filled with heartfelt gifts for the special people in your life. From the our Warm & Fuzzy Gift Bundle to beautiful scarves, you’ll be tempted to spoil yourself too!

Need it by Valentine’s Day? Place your order by February 10th, and choose Priority shipping at checkout.

A  Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Field Guide to Everyday Magic Issue 3

Our spin-off publication, Field Guide to Everyday Magic, is filled entirely with the worksheet-style prompts, captivating photographs, and inspirational quotes that Bella Grace has come to be known for. Field Guide makes the perfect gift for anyone seeking an extra spark of magic in their lives. See inside Issue 3 >>

Magical Thinking Gift Bundle

Including Issue 19 of Bella Grace, the Magical Thinking Journal, and pretty coin purse, this bundle makes a wonderful gift for anyone who loves jotting down ideas when the inspiration strikes. See Inside the Magical Thinking Bundle >>

All for Love Trinket Tray

This darling trinket tray is embellished with lovely golden flowers and serves as a simple reminder of love wherever displayed! Gift the All for Love Trinket Tray >>

Rosebud Bath Salts DIY Kit

This kit includes everything needed to make rosebud bath salts – a gift that encourages staying in, getting cozy, and indulging! Gift the Rosebud Bath Salts DIY Kit >>

Red Ombre Love Scarf

Adorned with heartfelt sentiments, this scarf makes a thoughtful gift for a friend or loved one. Gift the Red Ombre Love Scarf >>

Warm & Fuzzy Gift Bundle

Give the gift of comfort and inspiration with our Warm & Fuzzy Gift Bundle! This bundle not only contains Bella Grace Issue 22, but we’ve also added oh-so cozy pink giving socks. These socks have been knit together with love to remind the recipient that someone is always thinking of them with warm, fuzzy feelings, and a hug in their heart. Explore inside the bundle >>

Lavender Giving Shawl

Part of our Warm & Cozy Collection, this endearing shawl is designed to give whenever someone near or far could use a hug. Gift to a friend or loved one to let them know you’re thinking about them. Gift the Lavender Giving Shawl >>

The post A Bella Valentine’s Day Gift Guide first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

“Presents are made for the pleasure of who gives them, not the merits of who receives them.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Every year, December sees my family celebrate two birthdays, Christmas, and Chanukah.

With gift-giving in the forefront of my mind this month, I’m stopping to consider how gifts can be expressions of love rather than just presents for presents’ sake.

Dr. Gary Chapman’s theory of “love languages” offers distinct categories of ways different people give and receive love. These categories include quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, physical touch, and receiving gifts.

According to Dr. Chapman’s website, people who identify with receiving gifts as their main love language “thrive on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift.” It’s not because they’re materialistic. They simply treasure gifts as “visual representations of love.”

That idea is accurate in my experience too. Take, for example, my jewelry box. It’s full of items that are technically very similar, like earrings or bracelets. However, to me, there’s a big difference between the bracelet I bought on a whim and the bracelet my husband gave me that once belonged to his grandmother. Even if they’re technically worth the same amount monetarily, the second bracelet is a tangible reminder of my husband’s love. It’s a symbol of family and love throughout generations — of where we came from, and of future generations yet to be.

This year, I’m interested in giving gifts that are representations of love. Here’s how to approach gifts with a love language mindset:

Go for gifts that make them feel cared for or understood.

There have been times when I’ve received the exact gift I wanted, and yet it didn’t feel as good as the gift I didn’t know I needed. For instance, one of the best gifts I’ve received was a creative writing workbook. It wasn’t something I would have picked out for myself. But as I started to use it, I realized how much I’d needed an outlet for self-expression. Is there someone in your life who’s tired and needs rest? Someone who’s lonely and needs company? Someone who’s scared and needs encouragement? Let that be the guiding inspiration behind your gift to them.

Don’t feel obligated to spend a lot of money.

While giving an expensive gift can be exciting, it’s generally not the cost of the gift that makes it memorable or meaningful. This is especially easy to forget during the holidays, when there’s so much glossy advertising suggesting otherwise. Even the priciest gift’s glittering aura can fade quickly once it’s unwrapped and put away. Try not to get hung up on the cost of your gift, but rather, its impact on the recipient.

Put time and effort into the gift.

This one might seem like a no-brainer. But nothing detracts love from a gift more than getting the feeling that it’s just an afterthought. Don’t forget, and don’t wait until the last minute. One strategy is to jot down ideas throughout the year, taking note of interests your loved one mentions. The fact that you made the effort to remember will mean a lot. Also, don’t forget presentation. Taking the extra time to wrap your gift nicely will reflect the time you took on what’s inside.

A great example of a gift given lovingly was Ginny Kubitz Moyer’s “30 Days of Smiles,” which was originally featured in Bella Grace Issue 11. When Moyer started to think about choosing a birthday gift for her mother, she recognized that her mom was downsizing her life and keeping a very busy schedule.

“So I thought of a gift that would require very little time and no storage space whatsoever. Every day, for a month, I would send Mom an email. The email would contain something — a quotation, a photo, a video clip, a song — that would lift her spirits.  I explained it all in a handwritten card, given to her on her birthday. I called it “A Month of Uplifting Things.”

This season, let your gifts come from your heart. Be wary of feeling overwhelmed or resentful about giving. These could be signs that you’re giving out of obligation or expectation, not love. Don’t stress or put excessive pressure on yourself. At the end of the day, remember that one gift is just one gift. Love entails giving in many different ways all year round.

How do you approach gift-giving when the holidays roll in? Join the conversation in the comments below — we love hearing your voice.

The post How to Approach Gifts with a Love Language Mindset first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.